Since you asked (vol. 4)

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Here’s my two-cents worth – and then some – on topics readers have asked about:

Q: Rugger is wondering if Dalton Bell is still on the roster.

A: Yes, and the first-year free agent from West Texas A&M got his most extensive action of camp Tuesday afternoon when starter Matt Hasselbeck and backup Seneca Wallace were sitting out with minor injuries. How did he look? Well, let’s just say there’s a reason he’s No. 4 on the depth chart.

When Stan Gelbaugh was in that situation back in day, he walked past the reporters at lunch one day during the training camp and offered, “Hey, when you guys talk to coach, ask him how much I’m going to play in the final preseason game, not if I’m going to play.”

I shared this story with Bell recently and he got a laugh out of it. The life of the No. 4 QB is the flip side of glamorous. He gets the drills where the QB is handing off, while Hasselbeck, Wallace and Charlie Frye are throwing the passes in another drill. When he gets any time in team drills, they’re the No. 4 reps, which often consist of one snap at the very end of practice.

Q: Unregistered wants to know if Logan Payne has a chance to stick on the 53-man roster.

A: Definitely, especially with Bobby Engram being out the first few games and Deion Branch still questionable as far as being ready for the opener. The club is going to have to carry at least one extra receiver on the cut to 53.

There’s starting split end Nate Burleson and Courtney Taylor, the starting flanker until either Branch or Engram can return. There’s also Ben Obomanu, who isn’t taking advantage of the extra chances he’s getting. There’s Jordan Kent, an impressive athlete who has made some nice catches but still drops too many balls – including one in an against-air drill Wednesday morning. Payne is a tough (he’s practicing and playing with a crack rib), sure-handed, can contribute on special teams and also help fill the void in the slot until Engram comes back.

Q: Unofficial Voice is wondering about the kicking situation, and rookie Brandon Coutu’s inability to get his kickoffs into the end zone.

A: Now this is a question everyone in the building is pondering. Coutu and veteran Olindo Mare are not separating themselves in this battle to replace clutch kicker Josh Brown.

Coutu came through under pressure with his game-winning field goal in overtime against the Bears – his fifth three-pointer of the game. But Mare was even more impressive driving his kickoffs into the end zone. The week before, Mare converted both his field goal attempts against the Vikings, and Coutu struggled with the depth on his kickoffs.

Special teams coach Bruce DeHaven says he plans to rotate them Monday night against the Chargers, rather than having one handle all the kickoffs and the other field goals and PATs.

This is going to be a tough choice – the future vs. the present. Coach Mike Holmgren will probably push for the proven kicker, while club president Tim Ruskell drafted Coutu and believes he can be the answer for seasons to come.

Q: This one is not so much a question, but a debate that has been going on among readers about retired numbers.

A: The Seahawks have retired only two numbers: Steve Largent’s 80 and 12 — not for Sam Adkins, but the fans.

The league has discouraged retiring numbers because teams like the Bears were running out of them for their current players. The Seahawks now are focused more on the Ring of Honor, and they plan to be selective about who gets in.

Q: Pitching from PDX wants to know how the radio helmets are working for the defensive players.

A: Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu and David Hawthorne wore the radio helmets against the Bears. Tatupu still doesn’t like the techno “advancement,” but he’s trying to be a team player on this one.

The Seahawks will continue to use hand signals from the sideline, as well. Just in case. Like in the preseason opener at Minnesota, where Tatupu was having problems hearing the signals.

A couple of times during the game against the Bears, Tatupu could be seen giving the “hurry up” motion to the bench. That’s because he was afraid the receiver in his helmet would be clicked off before the complete call had been relayed.